Hemingway’s “iceberg” principle of writing in relation to The Old Man and the Sea (suggested essay topic, spark notes)

Hemingway believes in simplicity of style (strangely those who apes him always end up with puerile writing!) and to prove his point he provides us the “iceberg” principle. To quote from “An Interview with Earnest Hemingway”,

“There is seven-eighths of iceberg under water for every part that shows. Anything you know you can eliminate and it only strengthen your iceberg.”

He may have written the novella that runs in to hundreds of pages by adding picturesque description of Cuban landscape (remember Hardy?) or creating countless characters (of course I’m alluding to the famous match maker of literary world Jane Austen). However, his sole aim is to showcase the readers a tip of an iceberg and he does it successful by creating a piece of art that revolves around Santiago, and his tragedy in success. You have to read it with telescope on your eyes to find other characters if they exist somewhere (Pedrico, Manolin’s father, or female tourist)! With his sheer ability as a writer, he makes us to see the part of the iceberg which is inside the water. The readers never feel that, the visibility of mere tip results in hollow, a perplexing gape. Rather the act of ignoring before mentioned parts elevates his writing. Hey dearies, do you want any other proof to engrave his name with the golden letter on the sky of American literature???

(It’s true that my focus on style instead of my own interpretation of the novella.)

How far the placement should be considered as valuable criterion in judging the institute?

Rather than placement, the quality of education which the educational institute provides should be given first preference.  However, we can’t completely ignore the placement factor too as we are living in the materialistic age. It is the age in which money is chosen over the values.  If the education of a particular institute is good, the student when comes out, definitely grab the fatly paid job due to his talent.  Even, those colleges which have good placement record can’t be able to get their weak students the worthy placement offers.

Note: This paragraph is a clear evidence of my lack of knowledge related to the subject.  Tried to increase it through web world but not much available except the definition of ‘placement’L

What is Literature?

Literature grows out of life, reacts upon life and exists because of life. Yet to define literature is very difficult task. The term itself refers to wide range of printed materials and non printed stuff too (e.g. ballad, which spread from mouth to mouth rather than by black printed words.)   Language and the result it provides to the readers (information or emotion?) plays vital role in deciding whether the text is literary, scientific or historic.  Historical books leave us with information while literary work with emotion, it may be of delight or disdain. Moreover, the literary language is highly connotative and the same is not true with the scientific language.   But you may ask Edward Gibbon’s “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” transcends the historical boundaries and invade into literary region. To conclude,   to stuff the meaning of literature is some precise sentences is too complex to attempt.

Note: Some crammed sentences; I forcefully plucked out of my mind and viola!!! The status bar declared “words: 153”.